Stapler device

ABSTRACT

A stapler device is described which can house a magazine containing surgical staples or clips for closing an open wound. Preferably the magazine will be disposable. The stapler device has two complementally formed jaws which have flanges thereon for enabling such jaws to be connected together so as to be pivotable about a common axis. A set of lever arms are joined at one end thereof to the two jaws, and at the other end to the magazine containing the surgical staples. These lever arms function to convert pivotal movement of the jaws about the common axis to reciprocal and preferably substantially linear movement of the magazine relative to the stapler device. This reciprocal movement of the magazine enables one surgical staple to be advanced at a time preparatory to application to the open wound. Receding of the magazine enables the staple-applying nose portion of the jaws to come substantially together to effect closing of the surgical staple as it is applied to the wound. A scissors-type spring can be provided, if desired, on the jaws to return the same to a neutral rest position, automatically. If this return spring is omitted, two positive squeezing actions are required, one to apply the surgical staple, and the other to open the jaws apart and advance the magazine forwardly to dispense the next surgical staple in readiness for application thereof to the wound. Either way, complete control over the operation of the stapler device remains with the person who is holding such device in his hand.

United States Patent 5] Mar. 7, 1972 Caroli [54] STAPLER DEVICE [72]Inventor: ltalo Caroli, Westmount, Quebec, Canada [73] Assignee: DMSIndustries Limited, Lachine,

Quebec, Canada [22] Filed: Dec. 9, 1969 [211 App]. No.: 883,383

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data July 4, 1969 Canada ..056,l55

[52] US. Cl ..72/410, 29/212, 128/334, 227/19 [51] Int. 821d 9/08 {58]fieldolsearch ..72/410; 29/243-256, 212 R, 212 D; 227/19; 128/325, 326,334

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,194,748 3/1940 Glaser etal.... .....72/4l0 2,790,341 4/1957 Keep et .....72/410 2,299,85810/1942 Sorensen .....72/4l0 3,152,336 10/1964 Brady 29/212 D 2,678,4435/1954 Lindstrom ..72/410 2,096,173 10/1937 Guerrini ..72/410 2,525,75910/1950 Austin ..72/410 2,744,251 5/ 1956 Yollmer ..72/410 PrimaryExaminer-Charles W. Lanham Assistant Examiner-Michael J. KeenanAttorney-Cushman, Darby & Cushman [57] ABSTRACT A stapler device isdescribed which can house a magazine containing surgical staples orclips for closing an open wound. Preferably the magazine will bedisposable. The stapler device has two complementally formed jaws whichhave flanges thereon for enabling such jaws to be connected together soas to be pivotable about a common axis. A set of lever arms are joinedat one end thereof to the two jaws, and at the other end to the magazinecontaining the surgical staples. These lever arms function to convertpivotal movement of the jaws about the common axis to reciprocal andpreferably substantially linear movement of the magazine relative to thestapler device. This reciprocal movement of the magazine enables onesurgical staple to be advanced at a time preparatory to application tothe open wound. Receding of the magazine enables the staple-applyingnose portion of the jaws to come substantially together to effectclosing of the surgical staple as it is applied to the wound. Ascissors-type spring can be provided, if desired, on the jaws to returnthe same to a neutral rest position, automatically. if this returnspring is omitted, two positive squeezing actions are required, one toapply the surgical staple, and the other to open the jaws apart andadvance the magazine forwardly to dispense the next surgical staple inreadiness for application thereof to the wound. Either way, completecontrol over the operation of the stapler device remains with the personwho is holding such device in his hand.

3Claims,3DrawingFigures PATENTEDMAR 7 I972 SHEET 1 [IF 2 A OQ VQ STAPLERDEVICE This invention relates broadly to a stapling device, and inparticular, to a stapling device of the type which is adapted to receiveand house a magazine containing surgical staples or clips that are to bedispensed one at a time for closing an open wound.

It has long been known that in order to enable a surgeon, aveterinarian, or other doctor to close an open wound, a tweezerlikeclamping device has been used to pick up and squeeze shut the surgicalstaple or clip which is applied to the wound. Picking up and applying ofthe surgical clips was done one clip at a time, thereby resulting in aconsiderable expenditure of time as well as a considerable amount ofhandling. A nurse or other assistant normally picked up the singlestaple or clip with the tweezerlike clamping device, and then handed itto the doctor who subsequently applied the surgical clip to the wound.Depending upon the size of the wound to be closed, and perhaps on theenvironment in which this operation was taking place, any unnecessarydelays incurred in closing the wound increased the potential hazard forbacteria or other infecting agents to get into the open wound. As aresult, some attempts were made to improve on the basic tweezerlikeclamping device originally used. One improved surgical clip applicatoris described in US. Pat. No. 2,096,173 issued on Oct. 19, 1937 to RenzoGuerrini, while another such device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,152,336issued on Oct. 13, 1964 to James J. Brady. However, these prior artdevices are relatively com-' plicated and have met with only ratherlimited success.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide an improvedstapler device for applying surgical staples or clips which penetratethe skin and can be squeezed shut to close an open wound, which isrelatively simple in construction and easy to operate.

It is also an object herein to provide an improved stapler device whichis adapted to receive and house a magazine for dispensing surgicalstaples one at a time, with such magazine being retained in properalignment relative to the stapler device, for advancing surgical staplesin sequence and under the complete control of the doctor who isoperating this stapler device.

It is yet a further object herein to provide an improved stapler devicehaving two jaws which are spaced apart, but which are interconnected tobe pivotable about a common axis. This pivotal motion of the two jaws isconverted to reciprocal movement of the magazine containing the surgicalstaples or clips to enable applying such clips to close an open wound.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention can beachieved by one broad form of the invention where, there is provided astapler device adapted to receive and house a magazine for dispensingsurgical staples to close an open wound, said device comprising; a firstjaw and a second jaw, each jaw having flange means thereon foroperatively joining the same together, the flange means on one jaw beingreceivable within the flange means on the other jaw, and each of theflange means having an aperture therein for receiving a connecting pinsuch that said first and second jaws are pivotable about a common axis;and lever arms mounted on the first and second jaws for operativelyconnecting said jaws to the magazine of surgical staples, the lever armsbeing so disposed as to convert pivotal motion of said jaws about thecommon axis to reciprocal movement of the magazine to advance onesurgical staple at a time preparatory to application thereof to thewound.

In one preferred form of such a stapler device, a pair of flanges areprovided on each of the jaws, extending outwardly from opposite sidesthereof and being provided in each instance with an aperture such thatall of the apertures are in alignment, when the stapler device isassembled, and coaxial with said common axis. In order to accommodateimproved alignment of the magazine containing surgical staples, which isreceived and housed within the stapler device, a hub element isprovided. This hub element is receivable within the flange means on eachof the jaws when the latter are assembled.

Further, this hub element can have a slot therein for engaging theconnecting pin of the stapler device so that, in one form, the hubelement is guided by a pin-in-slot arrangement. The connecting pin ofthe stapler device engages, in a broad sense, guide means on the hubelement which in turn guides the magazine to restrain the magazine inits reciprocal movement.

Further modifications and refinements of the above stapler device canalso be made within the spirit of the present invention. Accordingly,there is provided in a more preferred form of the present invention, astapler device adapted to receive and house a magazine for dispensingsurgical staples to close an open wound, said device comprising; a firstjaw and a second jaw, each jaw having flange means thereon forfacilitating joining the same together, the flange means on one of thejaws being positionable within the flange means on the other jaw, witheach flange means having an aperture therein for receiving a connectingpin that interconnects said jaws so as to be pivotable about a commonaxis; a hub element adapted to be housed within the flange means on saidjaws, and serving to releasably retain said magazine of staples, the hubelement having slot means therein for guided engagement thereof with oneend of said connecting pin; and a plurality of pivotally interconnectedlinkages which are rotatably connected at one end thereof to said jawsfor actuation by pivotal movement of the latter, with the other end ofsaid linkages being movably connected to said hub element, such that thelinkages are so disposed to convert pivotal movement of said jaws toreciprocal movement of the magazine thereby advancing one surgicalstaple at a time preparatory to application of the same to said wound.

The present invention will now be described in more detail withreference being made to the accompanying illustrative drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing one preferred form of the stapler deviceof the present invention, in assembled form, housing a magazinecontaining surgical staples or clips;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view, taken in section along line 22 ofFlG.l; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a magazine containing surgicalstaples or clips of FIGS. 1 and 2.

Turning now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the numeral one designates the staplerassembly overall, which includes a stapler device 10 and a magazinecontaining a supply of surgical staples or clips 102. The stapler device10 will preferably be made of stainless steel, while the magazine 100will usually be made of a surgical grade of plastic. It will berecognized that because this stapler assembly 1 is going to be used inan operating theater, a doctors office, or other such environment wheresanitary conditions are to be maintained at as high a standard as ispossible, it is necessary that the stapler assembly be capable ofsterilization to kill any germs or bacteria thereon. This will enableone form thereof to be used again and again. Similarly, since themagazine 100 may be repeatedly used, i.e., requiring only a refill ofsurgical staples or clips 102, it too should be capable of sterilizationto maintain a high degree of cleanliness. In other instances, however,the magazine 100 will be disposable and hence will be discarded afterits supply of surgical staples or clips 102 has been used up.Accordingly, it will be recognized that the materials of which eitherthe stapler device 10 and/or the magazine 100 can be made will bedetermined by the conditions and modes of operation under which it willnormally be used. Clearly, a wide variety of materials can be usedalthough some will be either cheaper and/or more suitable than otherswhen all economic and use factors are taken into consideration.

With particular reference to FIG. 1, the stapler device 10 comprisescomplementally formed left and right jaws 20 and 60 which include bodyportions 22 and 62, gripping grooves or recesses 24 and 64, and noseportions 26 and 66. Each of the nose portions 26 and 66 is provided witha lip section 29 and 69, respectively, having a recess 28 and 68 thereinfor releasably engaging one surgical staple or clip 102 at a time. Assuggested in FIG. 1, each surgical staple 102 has a knee or ball jointarrangement therein which is releasably held in the recess 28 and 68 inorder to effect application of such staple or clip to the open wound.

The body portions 22 and 62 of each jaw are provided with mountingflanges 30 and 70 extending outwardly from each jaw at opposite sidesthereof. The particular embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 shows eachmounting flange 30 and 70 to be generally L-shaped in section, takentransverse to the longitudinal direction of each jaw 20 and 60. Othersuitable shapes can also be used, providing that each mounting flangewill still enable the two jaws to be secured one to another so as to bepivotable about a common axis. It will be recognized from the drawings,that in the particular embodiment shown, the length of the upstandingleg portion of the mounting flanges 70 is less than the length of thecorresponding leg portion on mounting flanges 30. Accordingly, theflanges 70 are capable of being disposed, in assembled form, within theflanges 30. All of the mounting flanges 30 and 70 are provided withapertures or orifices 32 and 72 which are in alignment one aboveanother, again in assembled form, such that the orifices in cooperatingpairs of the mounting flanges 30 and 70 will rotatably receive mainpivot axles 33 whose axes are coaxial with a common axis about whicheach of the jaws 20 and 60 can pivot. FIG. 2 shows each of the mainpivot axles 33 having an enlarged outer end and small inner end 33'whose purpose will be described below.

The end portion of each of the jaws 20 and 60 opposite the nose portionsthereof is provided with a mounting shoulder 34 and 74 to which a pairof long lever arms 35 are pivotally connected, by means of pivot pins 36and 76. The other end of each of the long lever arms 35 is alsopivotally connected, to a corresponding one of a pair of short leverarms 37 by means of pivot pins 40. In addition, the other ends of thetwo short lever arms 37 are each rotatably connected to an upperextension flange 42 by means of a common pivot pin 44. This upperextension flange 42 is integrally formed on a hub element 50 whose bodyportion is indicated at 48. A lower extension flange 46 corresponds tothe flange 42, and has a locking pin 47 therein for purposes to bedescribed below. The lower extension flange 46 is also integrally formedon the body 48 of the hub element 50. The hub element 50 is shown asbeing tubular and generally rectangular in cross section in order toslidably engage and receive the magazine 100 of surgical staples 102.Moreover, this hub element 50 including the extension flanges 42 and 46thereon are so dimensioned as to be receivable within the innermostmounting flanges 70. Since the mounting flanges 30 and 70 are generallyL-shaped in section as noted above, so the hub element 50 must berectangular in shape in order to be relatively closely received withinsuch flanges. Since the mounting flanges 30 and 70 may have othershapes, i.e., other than L-shaped, so too can the hub element 50 be ofvarious cross-sectional shapes. It is important, however, to recognizethat the shape of the hub element 50 will be complemental with the shapeof the mounting flanges 30 and 70 in order to provide a fairlytight-fitting arrangement which nevertheless still provides the requiredrelative movement needed of the magazine 100.

It should be noted that an aperture is provided in each of the longlever arms 35 at a distance from the axis of pivot pins 40 substantiallyequal to the spacing between the axes of pivot pins 44 and 40 in the twoshort lever arms 37. These two apertures can then be brought intoalignment to rotatably receive a common pivot pin 52. This pivot pin 52has an enlarged inner end 53 which, as seen in FIG. 2, is adapted toslidingly engage a retainer lug 103 on the magazine 100. A parallelograminterconnection is hence established between the lever arms 35 and 37,by the pivot pins 40, 44 and 52. It will hence be seen that one end ofthe two long lever arms 35 is pivotally connected to the two jaws 20 and60, while one end of each of the two short lever arms 37 is pivotallyconnected to the hub element 50, with the other end of each of the shortand long lever arms being pivotally connected one to another. Moreover,it will also be seen that because the retainer lug 103 has a lengthdimension parallel to the longitudinal axis of the magazine 100, thatmotion of the pivot pin 52 will be restrained to a path generallyparallel to the longitudinal axis of the magazine 100. Furthermore, itwas previously mentioned that each main pivot axle 33 has a small innerend 33', and each axle also has a neck portion of sufficient length thatit can slidably be received within a slot 54 in the body 48 of hubelement 50. The small inner end 33 of the main pivot axle 33 is, in eachinstance, recessed in order to facilitate spreading apart of such end,in a rivetlilte manner so that the overlapping flanges 30 and 70 canpivotally be interlocked together while simultaneously connecting thehub element 50 operatively to such overlapped flanges 30 and 70. Itshould also be noted that the slot 54 is disposed parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the magazine when it is received within the body ofthe hub element 50.

From the foregoing description, it will be noted that in assembled form,the magazine 100 is releasably held within the hub element 50, andbecause of the pin-in-slot connection of the neck portion of the mainpivot axle 33 and the slot 54 in hub element 50, both the hub elementand the magazine are slidable as a unit within the stapler device 10.The magazine 100 is held locked in position within the hub element 50 bymeans of the pin 47 engaging in an orifice or recess in the magazine100. This arrangement can be seen with reference to FIG. 2, and it isevident that other equivalent interlock arrangements can also be used.It will also be evident that each of the main pivot axles 33 in thecooperating pairs of mounting flanges 30 and 70 are so adapted as toallow the previously mentioned sliding action of the magazine 100 andhub element 50 within stapler device 10.

A scissor-type return spring is shown at 78 in FlG.l, and can beprovided if desired for returning the stapler device 10 to its nonnalrest position, automatically. Should this retum spring 78 be omitted,the doctor merely adjusts his grip on the stapler device such that hisfingers grasp the rear grooves 24 and 64 where, upon application ofsqueezing pressure the two jaws 20 and 60 will pivot to a rest positionsuch as that shown in FIG. 1. Other types of return spring arrangementscan also be used, and it will be noted, that whatever type of return aspring is used, the jaws of the stapler device 10 will return to theirnormal rest position as soon as the squeezing pressure which was appliedto close the surgical staple or clip 102, is removed or reduced.

As previously noted, the magazine 100 is adapted to contain and dispensea supply of surgical staples or clips 102, one at a time. Although themagazine 100 can have various tubular, cross-sectional configurations,the magazine shown herein is rectangular, and a supply of the surgicalstaples or clips 102 is placed into the magazine at the time ofmanufacture of the same. Moreover, it will in some instances bepreferable to have a disposable magazine 100, with the same being filledwith a supply of surgical clips 102 and sterilized at the time ofmanufacture. The sterilized magazine of clips is then wrapped in asanitary package and sent out for distribution to doctors, hospitals andso on. Upon receipt of such a package, the magazine is simply unwrappedand placed into the stapler device 10. Thus the assembly is readied foruse with a minimum of handling. This is important since virtually no oneneeds to touch the surgical staples, and hence any contamination hazardthat might otherwise exist, is essentially eliminated. Also, when thestaples are exhausted, the magazine, if disposable, can be thrown awayand a new, clean magazine full of staples simply taken from the supplyroom and made ready for use. Since the actual construction of thesurgical staples 102 is known, it need not be described further at thistime.

It will be apparent from FIGS. 1 and 2, that after a predeterminedsupply of staples 102 is put into the magazine 100, a clip follower 108,a pusher spring 104 and an end cap 106 are inserted behind thestaples.The spring 104 biases the staples 102 forwardly pushing the follower 108against the supply of staples or clips 102, while the end cap 106 is ina resilient, ribin-slot locking engagement closing the rear end of themagazine 100. The forward end of the magazine 100 is provided with anupper tongue element 109 which has a retaining dimple 110 thereon forholding back the forwardmost staple 102 before application thereof tothe wound. This retaining dimple 110 holds the leading staple 102 andhence prevents the spring 104 from pushing all of the staples 102 out ofthe magazine in an uncontrolled manner. The magazine 100 is normallymade from a surgical grade of plastic, and for convenience istransparent. As mentioned above, a disposable magazine could also beused as an alternative. The outer surface of the magazine 100 isgenerally fairly smooth with the exception of the addition of theretainer lug 103 on one side thereof and the provision of the aperture105 or some other equivalent structure on the other side, for receivingthe pin 47 in the lower extension flange 46 of hub element 50. This pin47 serves to lock the magazine 100 in position where it is properlylocated within the stapler device 10. At that location, the enlargedhead 53 of pivot pin 52 is able to come into engagement with a slot 103'in the retainer lug 103. Other alternative positioning and guidingarrangements can also be used instead of those just described, forinstance, a ratchet type of interconnection might be used with the hubelement 50, and

so on.

At the time of manufacture of the magazine 100, it is subsequentlyloaded with a charge of surgical staples 102, is completely sterilizedand packaged in a sterilized container. This container is then shippedto the hospital or doctors office wherever the present stapler assembly1 is to be used. In using this stapler assembly 1, the magazine 100 isinitially unwrapped or taken from the sanitary package in which itcomes, and loaded into the stapler device 10, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,with the magazine being releasably locked in position by means of thepin 47 on the hub element 50. The doctor is then able to pick up thestapler assembly 1, and by exerting gripping pressure at the forwardgrooves 24 and 64, for instance, will bring the nose portions 26 and 66of the jaws together. The leading surgical staple 102 which has beenheld in position by the retaining dimple 110, and in engagement with therecess 28 and 68 in the jaws and 60, is hence applied to the open woundpenetrating the flesh on both sides of the wound, and being collapsed toclose the same. As the nose portions 26 and 66 of the jaws cometogether, the lever arms 35 and 37 cause the magazine 100 to bewithdrawn rearwardly a short distance thus enabling the lip sections 29and 69 to come quite closely together and fully collapse the staple 102.lf the return spring 78 is provided, release of the gripping pressure bythe doctor will allow such spring to return the jaws 20 and 60 to thenormal rest position shown in FIG. 1.

If this return spring 78 is not provided, then as previously described,the doctor merely adjusts his grip on the stapler assembly l, to graspthe same by the rear grooves 24 and 64 and exerts a slight pressure toopen the nose portions 26 and 66. Regardless of whether grippingpressure is applied at either the forward or rear grooves 24 and 64,pivoting of each of the jaws 20 and 60 takes place about a common axispreviously described. Also, regardless of whether opening of the noseportions 26 and 66 takes place either manually or automatically byvirtue of the return spring 78, such opening motion will cause themagazine 100 to be driven forwardly, again by the action of the long andshort lever arms 35 and 37. The magazine 100 will normally be drivenforwardly until the neck portion of axle 33 reaches the end of slot 54in the hub element 50. At this point, the next staple 102 being urgedoutwardly by the pusher spring 104 will have been advanced to a positionbeing retained by the dimple l 10, and in engagement with the recesses28 and 68 in the lips 29 and 69 of the stapler jaws. The staplerassembly 1 is again ready for application of another staple 102 to thewound being closed.

As previously noted, the magazine and staples will usually be obtainedfrom the same manufacturing source, and will be sterilized and packagedin a sanitary enclosure. Handling of the magazine and especially of thestaples or clips by a doctor, nurse and so on, is therefore minimized,thus reducing both the contamination hazard and the time elementinvolved in the actual operation of closing an open wound. Moreover,good control over the operation of the stapler device 10 can very easilybe achieved with little effort. Also, the potential hazards and nuisanceof misalignment of the magazine within the stapler device 10 are reducedby the interconnection of the hub element to the stapler jaws 20 and 60,and by the retainer lug 103 guidingly engaging one end of the pivot pin52. Finally, it will be recognized that because of the simple structuralform and mechanical function of the various constituent parts of thepresent stapler device 10, a straightforward, easy to operate andreliable device is provided.

The present invention is therefore seen to provide a stapler deviceadapted for use with a magazine containing surgical staples, which isboth easy to operate and easy to maintain. Some specific modificationshave been suggested to the embodiment described in detail above, andother changes are also possible. The foregoing description should,therefore, be considered as being illustrative by way of example only,with the scope of the invention being defined in the claims below.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A stapler device adapted to receive and house a magazine fordispensing surgical staples to close an open wound, said devicecomprising:

a first jaw and a second jaw, each jaw having flange means thereon forfacilitating joining the same together, the flange means on one of thejaws being positionable within the flange means on the other jaw, witheach flange means having an aperture therein for receiving a connectingpin that interconnects said jaws so as to be pivotable about a commonaxis;

a hub element adapted to be housed within the flange means on said jaws,and serving to releasably retain said magazine of staples, the hubelement having slot means therein which are in guided engagement withone end of said connecting pin; and

a plurality of pivotally interconnected linkages which are rotatablyconnected at one end thereof to said jaws for actuation by pivotalmovement of the latter, with the other end of said linkages beingmovably connected to said hub element, such that the linkages convertpivotal movement of said jaws to reciprocal movement of the magazinethereby advancing one surgical staple at a time preparatory toapplication of the same to said wound.

2. The stapler device of claim 1, wherein spring means are provided onsaid jaws for returning the same to a normal rest position from either astaple-applying position or a staple-advancing position.

3. A stapler device adapted to receive and house a magazine fordispensing surgical staples to close an open wound, said devicecomprising:

a first jaw and a second jaw, each jaw having flange means thereon foroperatively joining the same together, the flange means on one jaw beingreceivable within the flange means on the other jaw, with each of theflange means having an aperture therein for receiving a connecting pinsuch that said first and second jaws are pivotable about a common axis;

lever arms mounted on the first and second jaws for operativelyconnecting said jaws to the magazine of surgical staples, the lever armsbeing so disposed as to convert pivotal motion of said jaws about thecommon axis to reciprocal movement of the magazine longitudinallythereof to advance one surgical staple at a time preparatory toapplication to the wound; and hub element for guidingly engaging themagazine and being receivable within the flange means on each of thejaws when assembled, the hub element including guide means for engagingsaid connecting pin to constrain the magazine to said reciprocalmovement, with the lever arms having two pairs of pivotallyinterconnected linkages, one end of each of one of said pairs oflinkages being pivotally joined to the jaws for actuation by pivotalmovement of said jaws, and one end of each of the other pair of linkagesbeing connected by a common pivot pin to said hub element, with theother ends of each pair of linkages being pivotally connected to oneanother by a common pin means, said linkages and the hub elementcooperating to produce said reciprocal movement of the magazine ofsurgical staples.

* i I i

1. A stapler device adapted to receive and house a magazine fordispensing surgical staples to close an open wound, said devicecomprising: a first jaw and a second jaw, each jaw having flange meansthereon for facilitating joining the same together, the flange means onone of the jaws being positionable within the flange means on the otherjaw, with each flange means having an aperture therein for receiving aconnecting pin that interconnects said jaws so as to be pivotable abouta common axis; a hub element adapted to be housed within the flangemeans on said jaws, and serving to releasably retain said magazine ofstaples, the hub element having slot means therein which are in guidedengagement with one end of said connecting pin; and a plurality ofpivotally interconnected linkages which are rotatably connected at oneend thereof to said jaws for actuation by pivotal movement of thelatter, with the other end of said linkages being movably connected tosaid hub element, such that the linkages convert pivotal movement ofsaid jaws to reciprocal movement of the magazine thereby advancing onesurgical staple at a time preparatory to application of the same to saidwound.
 2. The stapler device of claim 1, wherein spring means areprovided on said jaws for returning the same to a normal rest positionfrom either a staple-applying position or a staple-advancing position.3. A stapler device adapted to receive and house a magazine fordispensing surgical staples to close an open wound, said devicecomprising: a first jaw and a second jaw, each jaw having flange meansthereon for operatively joining the same together, the flange means onone jaw being receivable within the flange means on the other jaw, witheach of the flange means having an aperture therein for receiving aconnecting pin such that said first and second jaws are pivotable abouta common axis; lever arms mounted on the first and second jaws foroperatively connecting said jaws to the magazine of surgical staples,the lever arms being so disposed as to convert pivotal motion of saidjaws about the common axis to reciprocal movement of the magazinelongitudinally thereof to advance one surgical staple at a timepreparatory to application to the wound; and a hub element for guidinglyengaging the magazine and being receivable within the flange means oneach of the jaws when assembled, the hub element including guide meansfor engaging said connecting pin to constrain the magazine to saidreciprocal movement, with the lever arms having two pairs of pivotallyinterconnected linkages, one end of each of one of said pairs oflinkages being pivotally joined to the jaws for actuation by pivotalmovement of said jaws, and one end of each of the other pair of linkageSbeing connected by a common pivot pin to said hub element, with theother ends of each pair of linkages being pivotally connected to oneanother by a common pin means, said linkages and the hub elementcooperating to produce said reciprocal movement of the magazine ofsurgical staples.